The Vampire & Her Witch

”In the future, I expect you to consult with me before you attempt a stunt like this...”

A chill breeze blew across the hilltop that had nothing to do with winter weather as Nyrielle loomed over Aspakos. Her eyes blazed with a midnight energy as she made her displeasure with him palpable.

”Of course,” Aspakos said, bowing his head submissively. ”As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I will bring my insights to you,” he promised.

”See that you do,” Nyrielle said, pulling back on the aura of menace she radiated now that she’d extracted the promise she needed from Aspakos. Still, of all those who followed her, he was the most difficult to predict and even more difficult to direct. If he did something like this again... She wasn’t certain that she would be so forgiving.

”Remember,” Ashlynn said softly enough that only Nyrielle and Thane could hear. ”He did this to meet the challenge I gave him...”

”I know,” Nyrielle said lightly. ”Why else would I be so merciful?”

”You should go, Aspakos,” Thane said with a chuckle. ”Before you dig yourself any deeper. You did well tonight,” Thane praised. ”Now rest, before you say something that forces me to pluck you for Mistress Nyrielle,” he said.

”Of course, Lord General,” Aspakos said, bowing gracefully before he turned to go, leaving the two vampires and two witches alone on the hilltop.

”We made it through the first crisis,” Ashlynn said with a sigh as she watched the crowds returning home. ”Before we face the next one, I want to go home.”

”With your family?” Nyrielle asked lightly, wrapping an arm around Ashlynn’s slender waist and pulling her lover close. ”Or will you ask them to remain in Lothian for a time? Your reunions have been intense,” Nyrielle said as a worried look flickered across her brow. ”There’s no shame in allowing yourself a measure of time before you invite them into your new home.”

”No,” Ashlynn said, shaking her head. ”I need to move forward,” she said, placing a hand lightly on her chest above the Olive Seed. ”I need my family’s help to balance the Olive Seed, and the coven’s help as well. I need your help too, Nyrie,” she added, looking up into her lover’s midnight eyes.

”I found a clue on the river while I was fishing with Jocey,” Ashlynn explained. ”But it’s too slow. The Olive Seed might overwhelm me if I wait long enough for the slow way to work. With your help, I think we can achieve just as much in weeks, rather than years.”

”That sounds risky,” Heila said, frowning at Ashlynn. ”You push yourself so hard... Isn’t there another way? If you plant the seed in the earth instead of offering it to Jocelynn, couldn’t we destroy the tree that sprouts from it? Wouldn’t that be easier?” Heila asked, her grass green eyes shining with worry.

”That just gives us a different set of dangers to face,” Ashlynn said, shaking her head. ”And a malevolent olive tree is a very difficult thing to kill. But if we can restore the seed to what it should be, then it should be reasonably safe for Jocey to face its trial...”

”Reasonably safe?” Thane asked, raising a brow at Ashlynn. ℯ

”No witch’s trial is ever safe,” Ashlynn said. ”But we’ll give Jocey the best chance of success we can,” she promised. ”After that, it’s up to her.”

”In that case, there is much to be done before we leave Lothian,” Nyrielle said. ”Thane, we’ll be entrusting the city and the Verdant Hills to you while we return to the Vale.”

”Loghlan Dunn has proved to be a reliable vassal,” Ashlynn said. ”You can rely on him during the day. I’ll leave Hugo with you as well,” Ashlynn promised.

”I thought you wanted...” Heila started to say, only to cut off when Ashlynn shook her head.

”I do want him to join the coven,” Ashlynn said. ”But not yet. He isn’t ready for that pressure yet, not when I’ve just named him Lord Steward. Give him time to adjust and to recover from the wounds to his heart. Right now, what he needs is a distraction, and the work of getting the Verdant Hills in order is just the balm he needs.”

”Are you certain you’re not projecting yourself on your Steward, darling?” Nyrielle said. ”Of everyone who escapes into their work, you are one of the worst I have ever seen...”

”I’m not projecting!” Ashlynn protested. ”I, I just see enough of myself in Hugo to know that he’ll benefit from time with solvable problems, like the ledgers and the records of tithes. Once he’s accumulated more successes there, I can think of broaching the topic of joining the coven with him, but not until then. Maybe not even this year.”

”Are there others you’re considering?” Heila asked. ”Anyone else we should bring home with us?”

”Liam Dunn acquitted himself well enough that I’d like to bring him back to the Vale for a time,” Ashlynn said. ”Erling Fayle as well. They both need time and training before they take on their other duties. They can spend the winter with us in the Vale and return home in the spring,” she said.

”Have you selected seeds for them already?” Heila asked hesitantly. ”I don’t mind Lord Erling, but Liam Dunn...”

”I’m not that far along with them,” Ashlynn said, shaking her head. ”They both have more to prove before I’m willing to plan a seed for them. Right now, it’s time for tempering and testing. For now, I won’t plan another seed until we’ve resolved the Olive.”

”All right,” Heila said, sighing in relief. ”In that case, I won’t worry about it for now.”

”Good,” Ashlynn said, reaching out to lightly ruffle Heila’s hair. ”Because we have enough worries without borrowing tomorrow’s.”

”For now, let’s go home,” Ashlynn said firmly. ”I’ve been away from the Vale too long...”

”I couldn’t agree more,” Nyrielle said as she scooped Ashlynn into an embrace, holding her close and staring deep into her lover’s emerald eyes. ”It’s time to go home,” she said, pressing her forehead to Ashlynn’s brow and brushing her lips softly across Ashlynn’s lips. ”Together...”